A good critique group can make the difference between almost published and published. A bad critique group can make you want to claw your eyes out and give up writing entirely. I've belonged to both. I had a wonderful critique group for several years and I really do credit them with helping me get published. In fact, I dedicated Dangerous Curves to them. But we drifted apart over the years as each of us switched genres or came to different places in our careers. If I ever found the right combination of personalities and experience, I would love being part of another critique group.

You can read the rest of the interview here. And you won't be surprised that my answer to "How do you recharge your batteries?" was "Coffee, coffee, coffee!"

Thanks to Romance at Heart for shining the spotlight on my corner of the writing world.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Last week, I was interviewed about Fairy Tale Lust and my writing career by Night Owl Reviews. One of their questions was about my advice to other writers. I always hate questions like that because-- hey-- what the heck do I know? I still read the advice of other writers! But I took a stab at it:

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Ignore the inner voice that says, "You're not a real writer" and keep writing. Because that's what real writers do: they write through the self-doubt.

Don't talk about what you're currently writing. Put your enthusiasm into the story and talk about it only after you've sold it.

Remember that a rejection is one person's opinion about one specific story on one particular day. That's all. Don't give it more power than that.

Read a lot and read critically. Learn from other writers by reading what they've written, not by what writing advice they give.

Write, write, write. And when you're tired and discouraged and don't think you can write another word, write another word. It really is just that simple. And just that hard.

I re-read my "advice"-- especially that last little nugget-- and feel like a fraud. Maybe I should take my own advice, hmm?

You can read the rest of the interview here. Thanks to Night Owl Reviews for interviewing me, even if I give lame advice!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Brighton Waterstone's today! This is the main bookstore in town and it has only two small shelves of erotica so it was nice to see you there!

And Sheri sent me this picture of FTL in the Borders on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, shelved in the B's for some inexplicable reason. (I was also amused to note that I have stories in all but one of the anthologies around mine.)

Finally, Nick in Chesapeake, Virginia posed at Barnes & Noble with his copy of Fairy Tale Lust that I later autographed at my Norfolk reading:

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

'Fairy Tale Lust' is something different. Yes, some of the tales are set in a faraway land of long, long ago, but there are also contemporary tales so realistically told they might be happening next door, right now.

Fudge Jumbles, the awesome website of bargains and entertainment in Hampton Roads, covered my reading at Bean There Cafe on July 9 and had this to say:

The book is a compilation of classic fairy tales {18 stories in a little under 200 pages} that have been reworked with a modern & erotic twist.

As if the reading weren't enough, there was also a live body painting demonstration by Jeff Edney of Jeff Edney Studios. The BRAVE model {whose name currently escapes me} wore only a latex bikini bottom, pasties and a smile as she stood in front of the HUGE windows of Bean There for over an hour while Jeff transformed her into a 'pixie'.

New from Berkeley-based Cleis Press is a raft of erotica anthologies, including Fast Girls: Erotica for Women, Girl Crush: Women's Erotic Fantasies, and Fairy Tale Lust: Erotic Fantasies for Women. One tale in that last volume begins: "James went seeking his fortune. ... He'd been gifted with a well-made sword, one of notable length and girth."

Monday, July 12, 2010

Some pictures from my first Fairy Tale Lust reading Friday night at Bean There Cafe in Norfolk, Virginia. It was a lovely evening with champagne, fairy tale cake, chocolate, a signature "Lusty Latte" (dark chocolate, cherry and amaretto), body painting by Jeff Edney Studios and a lively and supportive crowd of friends and strangers.

I read Charlotte Stein's deliciously spooky "The Return" and my own demonic "In the Dark Woods." I was in a dark mood, apparently.

Andrea Dale is a prolific author in a variety of genres. On one level, her story "How the Little Mermaid Got Her Tail Back" is a fun, sexy D/s romp. On another level, it is a story of sexual redemption and discovery. It is a lovely woman-centered (mermaid-centered?) story that gives the mermaid the happily ever after she deserves.

What inspired you to retell this particular fairy tale?

Han Christian Anderson’s tales upset me as a child because of their unhappy endings. I later realized the woman always gets the short shrift in his stories. For example, In “The Little Mermaid,” the mermaid gives up her voice for legs, which cause her astonishing pain…and she still doesn’t get the guy. WTF?

I wasn’t so much trying re-tell “The Little Mermaid” as I was trying to re-frame it and give the mermaid the opportunity to get back what she lost. In my story, the main character is kinky, but her former lovers told her that her desires are perverse and disgusting. She sacrificed that part of herself (in essence, her voice) in an attempt to find acceptance and love. Then she meets a man who nurtures her darkest desires, giving her the chance to regain her voice and her tail, and to find true love. And they lived happily kinky ever after!

Are there any other fairy tales you’d like to see retold? Why?

Since we’re on the subject of Hans Christian Anderson, how about “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” or “The Little Match Girl”? But, really, I’m fascinated by any story that goes deeper into the tales we think we know and teases out a deeper meaning…especially with a twist.

How long have you been writing erotica?

Does doing kinky things with my Barbies count? If not, then since college, writing letters to Penthouse Forum and Penthouse Variations for beer money.

What is your favorite story you’ve written so far? Why?

Evil woman, asking me to choose! In the spirit of fairy tales, where three is a magic number, I’m going to say…

1. “Frozen.” A rare story in that, when I was partway through, the entire thing unfolded for me. It’s romantic as all get-out and makes me tear up every time I re-read it. It’s also been reprinted not once, but twice—the second time when an editor approached me and requested it.

2. “The Queen of Christmas.” Such a fun story to write! I combined Martha Stewart, Manheim Steamroller’s Wizard of Winter video, threw in a dash of an episode of Home Improvement, and topped it with a cherry of a spanking. I laughed the entire time I was writing it.

3. “Queen’s Up.” My favorite story to read aloud…except I have to read it in a (probably dodgy) Western accent. It starts with “It was my daddy who taught me to play poker,” and involves a ranch lost in a bet, a cross-dressing heroine, an almost mustache-twirling villain, and a sexy saloon girl. What’s not to love?

See my bibliography at www.cyvarwydd.com for info on where to obtain these stories, if you’re so inclined!

What advice would you give to aspiring erotica/erotic romance authors?

Remember that it’s about the characters. It’s not just another sex scene—it’s about these people having sex, and how that encounter transforms them.

What is your writing routine like?

How kind of you to assume I have any sort of “routine!” I’m on a never-ending search for a routine that works for me. I write almost every day, and recently discovered keeping a calendar to note which projects to work on when has been very helpful. (A list doesn’t work the same way in my brain as a calendar does. Who knew?)

Are you a full-time writer? What is your “day job?”

Writing and editing is my full-time job, but since I’m not yet making a living at it, a more accurate job title is Kept Woman.

Do you write to music? Did you have a song or soundtrack for your Fairy Tale Lust story?

I sometimes write to music; it depends on my mood. (See above re: routines, or lack thereof.) I didn’t create a soundtrack for “How the Little Mermaid Got Her Tail Back,” but I do have a “sexy songs” playlist to help me get in the mood.

Why do you think erotic fairy tales are so popular right now?

Right now? You mean they haven’t been for ages now? :-) Look at Anne Rice’s Beauty trilogy from the 1980s, for example! But I think the recent resurgence is an offshoot of the popularity of paranormal romance/erotica: vampires may rule, but fairy creatures are never far behind.

Plus, haven’t we all lusted after some fairy tale character? I remember when Sleeping Beauty was re-released in theatres, and my best friend and I making lustful comments about the Prince. And the kiss in Beauty and the Beast was hot!

What do you enjoy reading? Favorite authors? Favorite genres? Recommendations?

I’m one of those people who’ll read anything, as long as it’s good. Growing up, I was a hardcore fantasy reader, and I still love urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Right now I’m reading a variety of mysteries for a workshop I’m taking in July, and in the last year or so I’ve been devouring any modern gothic I can get my hands on.

I’m currently working on a humorous, spicy contemporary romance with one of my coauthors, and finishing a couple of my own novels and getting them circulating. I also have something like six short stories deadlines over the next month and a half…

Upcoming publications include…

“The Broken Fiddle” (not a fairy tale, but it involves an Irish legend) in Alison’s Wonderland (Harlequin Spice, July 2010)

“Flash!” in Fast Girls: Erotica for Women (Cleis Press, July 2010)

“All She Wanted” in Orgasmic: Erotica for Women (Cleis Press, August 2010)

“Darlene’s Dilemma” and “The Twelve Fucking Princesses” (another erotic fairy tale!) in The Mammoth Book of Threesomes and Moresomes (Running Press, October 2010)

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your writing?

I think I’ve rambled on enough… For those who are interested in learning more, please stop by my website, www.cyvarwydd.com. There are links to my blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc., where you can follow my journey through writing, showing up in the front row of countless Styx concerts, traveling, and working on a 1911 house. Among other things. :-)

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Justine Elyot has woven (quite literally) a delicious little tale of a princess in jeopardy in "Three Times." I love this story because it pays homage to the classics while being naughty enough to make the Grimm Brothers blush. Here, Justine shares her inspiration for "Three Times" and offers some terrific advice to aspiring authors.

Did you have a particular inspiration for your original fairy tale?

"Three Times" takes a variety of different fairytale themes – a smidgen of Sleeping Beauty, the recurrence of the number three, the tension between magical and human worlds – and meshes them together whilst also subverting the traditional Happily Ever After. I think a lot of children grew up, like me, absorbing that faux-medieval Germanic world of the Grimm fairytale, full of weary shoemakers and wicked stepmothers and talking cats in half-timbered houses – I could set endless stories there.

What advice would you give to aspiring erotica/erotic romance authors?

Something that worked wonderfully for me was ‘playing’ with story-writing on peer-review archive sites before I began to aim seriously for publication. I was able to gain invaluable feedback, benefit from a supportive community and build up a modest following so that eventually the time felt right to move forward and submit to anthologies – the leap in the dark became a leap in the dim light! Modern writers are incredibly lucky to have this huge web of resources available to them – join sites, post stories, take in what reviewers say and, above all, make sure you enjoy what you do.

What do you enjoy reading? Favourite authors? Favourite genres? Recommendations?

Outside of erotica and erotic romance, I rarely stray from historical fiction. I’ve been a lover of Victorian Gothic since I read The Secret Garden at about seven, and I devoured the Brontes, Victoria Holt and so on. Nowadays I’m keen on Sarah Waters (Fingersmith is in my all-time top ten), Michel Faber, Philippa Gregory, oh, and Wolf Hall was bloody marvellous. I just love a good story well told.

What’s next for you? Upcoming publications and current projects?

Well, I’m very excited to have recently joined the stable of excellent authors at Total E-Bound, so I’m hoping to work with them and their lovely editors as much as possible. Various short story ideas are bobbing about on my hard drive, and my second full-length book The Business of Pleasure – linked short stories with a narrative strand about an exclusive agency dedicated to fulfilling women’s wildest fantasies – is released in September by Xcite Books. So I’d better get my promotional hat on as soon as I can find it underneath all the writing hats!

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your writing?

Just that the reason I can’t supply an author photograph is that I’m very, very famous and have to keep my identity top secret. Only kidding :D. Really, I’d just like to thank Kristina for being such a wonderful editor and putting together such a gorgeous feast of a book – and then letting me be in it! It’s a great honour.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Louisa Harte's story "Ellie and the Shoemaker" is the kind of sexy, frothy tale I envisioned when I first came up with the concept for Fairy Tale Lust. As a fan of Sex and the City, it wasn't hard for me to imagine Ellie and her many pairs of to-die-for shoes. Throw in a very appealing (if somewhat clueless) shoemaker, and Louisa's story has all the makings for a Hollywood fantasy.

What inspired you to retell this particular fairy tale?

I love the story of The Elves and the Shoemaker. I remembered it from childhood and always loved the magic and charm of the dedicated shoemaker being surprised by the elves secretly at work in his shop. When Kristina put out the call for submissions for Fairy Tale Lust, I thought it would be a great opportunity to give this story a sexy contemporary new twist. I had a great time writing the story – it gave me a chance to indulge my love of fairy tales, romance, magic and passion! I hope the readers enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. :-)

Are there any other fairy tales you’d like to see retold? Why?

I’ve always been fond of Beauty and the Beast, so enjoy reading erotic retellings of this particular story, although I enjoy reading fairy stories altogether! The Fairy Tale Lust anthology was great in that it actively encouraged contemporary retellings, which I thought was quite novel. As for other fairy tales I’d like to see retold, I’m looking forward to reading all the great stories in this collection!

How long have you been writing erotica?

I’ve been writing erotica for approximately two years. After winning placings in competitions held by For the Girls.com and Better Sex.com, I was inspired to submit stories in response to calls for submissions for erotic anthologies. My first published story was ‘Prime Suspect’ in the Cleis Press anthology Best Women’s Erotica 2010, followed by ‘Ellie and the Shoemaker’ in Fairy Tale Lust. With three more stories scheduled for publication in upcoming Cleis Press anthologies, I’m really delighted by the response my work has received.

What is your favorite story you’ve written so far? Why?

I love all the stories I’ve written for different reasons. They’ve each allowed me to experiment with different tones, settings and erotic scenarios. Writing erotica and erotic romance is escapism of the best kind! I enjoy seeing where my imagination will take me and working out how to insert a bit of sizzle into the unlikeliest of places.

What advice would you give to aspiring erotica/erotic romance authors?

Above all, be yourself. Let your voice, your interests, your words come across on the page. Learn from those writers whose work you love, but at the end of the day recognise who you are and write about your interests and passions. In addition, if you’re writing for a call of submissions, make sure it’s something you’re interested in and stick to the brief. Don’t write to be published, write for enjoyment. Write because you want to and because you enjoy it. Embrace your own erotic viewpoint – that way your stories will be authentic and readers who love your work will hopefully seek out more. Write for the love of writing and don’t ever give up on your dreams!

What is your writing routine like?

I write in the afternoons. Usually, I’m inspired by an idea, a photograph, a piece of music, or a specific call for submissions. The idea or characters come to me first and then I sit down and let their story filter through me as I write. I’m not a big planner. I like to let myself be carried by my muse. I’m often pleasantly surprised by the outcome! Usually, I start by writing a first draft, letting the words flow without censoring or editing and then I print off the story and read it through, pencil in hand. After several more drafts and refining, I put it aside for a while. Then I reread it aloud, share it with a few close friends for second and third opinions and then I send it off. I like to write for calls for submissions that interest and inspire me and give me an opportunity to celebrate my own erotic viewpoint on love, romance and passion.

Do you write to music? Did you have a song or soundtrack for your Fairy Tale Lust story?

I don’t usually write ‘to’ music, but I am inspired ‘by’ music. I didn’t have a specific song or soundtrack for Ellie and the Shoemaker, but I do like to use music to get in the mood for writing sometimes. It’s a bit like getting ready to go out somewhere – you might play a particular album to get yourself in a particular mood for the night. It’s the same with writing – certain tracks can inspire certain moods: sexy, humorous, romantic, dramatic etc. Music can be a great inspirational tool.

What do you enjoy reading? Favorite authors? Favorite genres? Recommendations?

I read all kinds of fiction and non-fiction. With regard to erotic romance, I particularly enjoy Angela Knight’s work. She has a great sense of story, pace, sensuality and romance. I also enjoy reading stories by many of my fellow writers in this anthology and I feel blessed to be amongst such good company.

What’s next for you? Upcoming publications and current projects?

Currently, I have three more stories scheduled for publication in upcoming Cleis Press anthologies: ‘True Colors’ in Smooth: Erotic Stories for Women, ‘Seeing Stars’ in Orgasmic: Erotica for Women and ‘Changing my Tune’ in Best Women’s Erotica 2011 (to be confirmed!). It’s an exciting time!

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your writing?

Readers can stop by my website for more information and to keep up to date with what’s coming next. I love hearing from my readers, so feel free to drop me an email at www.louisaharte.com. :-)

Sunday, July 4, 2010

I'm delighted to have published Carol Hassler's first story! "GIngerbread Man" is an eerily delicious tale that shares some similarities with Charlotte Stein's "The Return." There is something about a man who is more than what he seems that is incredibly appealing. Carol's contribution to Fairy Tale Lust demonstrates the power of love... and desire.

What inspired you to retell this particular fairy tale?

A few years ago I had a very vivid dream and when I woke, I scribbled it down in the journal beside my bed. Many of the elements of Gingerbread Man are still true to that dream: a grieving widow, a spice-choked kitchen and swift, desperate sex. I knew I had to tell it eventually. But how? Dream logic almost never works in a sharable story.

When I thought about turning my dream into something usable, I turned to the old stories of the gingerbread man. In the children's story, the gingerbread man runs from each pursuer taunting, "you can't catch me," until he is finally defeated by a wily fox and a frightening river. The story format was far too short for a fox-like enemy (and I wanted a happy ending), but the destructive threat that water posed caught at me and ultimately became both enemy and savior.

Beyond the gingerbread man (who was created, chased, then met his end in the river), I also nabbed elements from other fairy tales. The most obvious is Pinocchio, where the character must do something unselfish to become real. (In my story, husband David braves the rain to save his wife Emily from death by car.) Anyone who's read any small number of fairy tales will also recognize the kiss as magical instrument, when Emily wakes her husband-sculpture with a kiss.

Are there any other fairy tales you’d like to see retold? Why?

Twelve dancing princesses. I have always loved this story about a band of sisters sneaking off and dancing every night in a mysterious subterranean kingdom. There's so much creative room in that tale.

If this is your first published story, share your path to publication.

I used to be dreadful about finishing stories. Like many people, my hard drive and notebooks are littered with story fragments. But recently I hit a crisis point. I'd been talking a lot about wanting to write but not actually writing much of anything at all. Around the time I saw the call for submissions to Fairy Tale Lust, I knew two things. 1) If I was going to seriously write, I had to write and send in a story for this anthology. NO excuses. Otherwise, I decided, I was just a poser who needed to move on. And 2) sexiness and gingerbread men were unforgettably intermingled after that dream I had and I knew that Fairy Tale Lust would be a terrific home for my story.

What authors have inspired, influenced or mentored you?

I have recently started reading Emma Holly's fabulous Demon books. I'm a fan of Meg Cabot's flirty dialogue and Julia Quinn's Very Nice characters. I love finding unique takes on the common supernatural, like the werewolves in Jacqueline Carey's Santa Olivia. I even admire (in the astonished round-eyed way) Susanna Clarke's dissertation-like approach to storytelling in Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I'm always on the lookout for inspiration.

What is your writing routine like?

I light a candle, fill a glass of wine. Turn on some music. And then I'm ready to write.Just kidding.

I'm busy and, as nice as it sounds, a routine has not yet happened. Instead, I carry a variety of small to tiny moleskin notebooks everywhere I go and I cuddle up with my computer in the garden or in coffee shops after I have set down a basic story outline. I write where I can, when I can. I've learned that a break in a story can come at any time and if I don't write it down, it's lost. The biggest change I made since I set my personal ultimatum about a year ago is that once the story is outlined, I set myself a deadline to write and edit it, and then I send it out somewhere right away.

Do you write to music? Did you have a song or soundtrack for your Fairy Tale Lust story?

If I do listen to music, it's usually because I need to jump start a writing session. I begin with the same music I use to run. My heart pumps and my fingers jump. More importantly, the adrenaline kills my strong critique reflex. I rock out until I get absorbed into the story, at which point the sound gets knocked down to nearly inaudible until the next writing lull. Then up goes the volume ...

Why do you think erotic fairy tales are so popular right now?

I have adored myth and fairy tale for my entire life. I see fairy tale references everywhere across genres so I'm more inclined to say that there are more erotic fairy tales because there is more erotica in general.

What do you enjoy reading? Favorite authors? Favorite genres? Recommendations?

I love fantasy, science fiction, romance, pop-science and history books, and just about everything else. I love authors who paint rich, strange worlds with a dose of humor, like Neil Gaiman. Or who craft finely tuned, analytical tales, like Rosemary Kirstein. I adore Laura Kinsale's romances, and any other romance that rolls off the usual track. This week I finished reading the fascinating pop-science Parasite Rex, by Carl Zimmer. It was fabulous!

Friday, July 2, 2010

ADR Forte's erotic tale "The Stone Room" is the closing story of Fairy Tale Lust. It is the story of a man's quest for happiness and the woman who gives him his heart's desire. Not all of the stories in Fairy Tale Lust have a "happily ever after" ending, but "The Stone Room" certainly does (albeit a kinky happily ever after!), which makes it the perfect conclusion to a collection of naughty fairy tales.

Give the basic premise for your story. Is it a contemporary, historical, fantasy setting?

I think of 'Stone Room' as a modern fairy tale. The setting is actually a contemporary city. The towers where James seeks his fortune are the high rises of office buildings, the dark rooms where his desire for pain first awakens are found in a private S&M club. But just like any fairy tale hero James is on a quest to find true love. The nature of that true love just turns out to be a big surprise for him!

What do you think makes your story a fairy tale? How does it fit in the fairy tale genre?

Well there is the quest aspect. And there are also the "tests" James faces from his enchantress/dominatrix love. Fairy tale heroes have to prove their worth, and James is already at a disadvantage because his enchantress works with him and knows all about his philandering nature. I think I envisioned James at first being the pretty-boy, player type, but over the course of the story as he explores bondage, submission, and even his own bisexuality as the giant and enchantress break him in, he "grows up" from a horny boy to a sexy, mature, submissive man. Just like a fairy tale hero, only hotter. And of course, he lives happily ever after with his enchantress! Gotta have the happy ending!! :)

Did you have a particular inspiration for your original fairy tale?

A big part of the inspiration for James' story came not from an actual fairy tale, but from a legend of Sir Gawain from King Arthur legend. There's a great version of it in a poem called The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle and the Wife of Bath's Tale from the Canterbury Tales is another, similar version without Gawain.

Basically the story goes that Sir Gawain was charged with the quest of discovering what women most wanted or else both he and King Arthur faced death. Gawain comes across an old hag in the forest who says she will tell him the answer if he promises to marry her. He promises, she solves the quest by telling them that what women most want is to be able to make their own decisions, and poor Gawain has to keep his vow to marry the hag. Sir Gawain is always portrayed as the resident stud muffin Casanova of the Round Table, so of course he's not at all happy with the situation, but he keeps his word and is prepared to do his manly duty like a good knight on his marriage night. The hag then transforms into a beautiful woman and tells him this is her true form and says she can keep appear as her true self either at night when they're alone together or during the day around others. She asks him which he wants her to do and Gawain (smart boy that he is!) tells her that she should decide (see, he was paying attention). The sorceress then tells him he did good and he can have her beautiful always and-we can assume- much naughty romping follows.

The Dame Ragnelle type of character shows up fairly often in fairy tales as the mysterious hag who makes life difficult for the hero/heroine, but turns out to be a powerful fairy or sorceress in the end and ends up helping the protagonist out, or rewarding him/her richly for all the earlier trials and tribulations. That's who James' enchantress is. She's a slightly mysterious, powerful female character and she's incredibly beautiful to James, but she's not just omg! gorgeous perfect. And she's also the true-love princess of the fairy tale, but she's definitely she's no damsel in distress.

I think maybe the story is a little feminist. But it's also a little masculinist (I totally didn't made that word up. There's a Wikipedia article, I swear!) because, like Sir Gawain, James himself is not entirely the typical dumb, dragon-slaying jock. He's smart, open-minded, sensitive. He's even got a few noble tendencies in there because he respects the enchantress. But he's also still very much the alpha. I really, really like the idea of alpha males being sexually submissive. Tis hawt!

How long have you been writing erotica?

Eons! Or more like since junior high. I remember reading those silly teen series and thinking "Are you kidding me? I can do better than THIS!" But then, I'd also read De Sade by then which probably influenced my opinion just a wee, teesny, tiny bit ;) I've been writing professionally now for about 8 years.

What is your favorite story you’ve written so far? Why?

Noo. Don't make me pick!

I think the stories that have a fantasy element are probably my favorites. I really like Flashback from Lust at First Bite and "Once an Addict..." from The Sweetest Kiss, both vampire stories and Carnival of the Grotesque from Like an Animal was my first ever werewolf smut story. The idea of werewolf smut bothered me a lot before I wrote it, because I worried about the line between paranormal sentient creature giving consent and bestiality. That's probably what I got for reading too much bad pr0n on the interwebz. But the characters in Carnival showed up one day and demanded to tell me their story and it was so beautiful and not squicky at all!

In "The Queen's Jewel" for the Like a Queen anthology, I got to rewrite the Princess and the Pea in a wonderfully passionate, naughty way. I always thought the prince in that story was useless and it was all about the Queen and the lost Princess. So I finally got to figure out what their relationship was all about... and it was yummy!

I also have an Alice in Wonderland themed story in the upcoming anthology Like a Vorpal Blade. In that one, the white rabbit showed up as the dashing Finn Leverett, Alice has a thing for black eyeliner, and the story straddles (no pun intended) this world and Wonderland. It was very much guilty indulgence to write that story because Alice is one of my favorite books ever, but I think it turned out really well, and I fell in love with both characters.

Out of my non-fantasy stories, I'm very fond of Urban Fairytale from Where the Girls Are. Like The Stone Room, the story doesn't have actual magic, but it's also told with the fairy-tale style. I think what geeks me about both stories is that, although nothing out of the ordinary happens, there's still a sense of magic in the way the characters find each other.

What is your writing routine like?

Write now. Sleep later ;)

Are you a full-time writer? What is your “day job?”

Sadly I do not write full time. I spend my time, like James and the enchantress, in a tower spinning gold out of nothing but words. Which means I make up a lot of numbers and convince people who convince other people that they should pay me for making up more numbers! What a gig. Although spending time out in the real world dealing with all the Muggles who've never even read a book that wasn't written by Stephen Covey isn't very much fun, it does give me insight into people and situations and ideas for stories. I think writers do thrive on the misery of having day jobs because it fuels our plotbunnies. Kind of a love-hate thing.

Do you write to music? Did you have a song or soundtrack for your Fairy Tale Lust story?

Do I have to admit this? Ok so I do a lot of my smut writing to 80's music or symphonic goth metal. (no surprise my characters have the angst now, is it?). I think I'll go hide under the writing sofa out of shame now.

Why do you think erotic fairy tales are so popular right now?

I think erotic fairy tales go through surges of popularity every now and then but never go out of style completely. Like vampires and werewolves, there's something timeless about the fairy tale. Maybe it's because we all grow up on fairy tales, or maybe fairy tales are a reflection of us. I'll have to navel gaze some more on this one and get back to you. ;)

What do you enjoy reading?Favorite authors? Favorite genres? Recommendations?

Everything! I read everything from romance to fantasy to smut to thrillers to Mr ADR's history textbooks. I've even been known to read the back of the shampoo bottle in the shower, in all the different languages! Okay, so maybe just once. And I really didn't read the other languages, I just cross-translated. Ahem! So some of my favorite authors are Robin McKinley, Patricia McKillip and Tanith Lee. They are all such mistresses of their craft, and are probably the greatest influences on me. I want to someday get to that same level of beauty and emotion in my own writing.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

When I first put out a submissions call for erotic fairy tales, I did so with some apprehension. Ask anyone to name his or her favorite fairy tale and the answer is swift and decisive—these are the stories that stay with us our entire lives. So, I was nervous about what the response would be when I asked authors to take those beloved stories and spin them into erotic tales. I had fears that I would be answered only by the endless echo of my own voice in an abyss.

I needn’t have worried.

The response to Fairy Tale Lust was overwhelming. Submissions started pouring in almost immediately, often accompanied by notes from the authors giving me background on their stories and reminiscing about their favorite traditional fairy tales. The submissions themselves were impressive in their variety. The reinterpreted versions of the classic fables had been lovingly crafted to remain true to the originals while giving them a new (and often kinky) twist. The tales that were new creations were written in voices that rang with an authenticity in the spirit of the classics. I was delighted with the stories that floated into my mailbox each week! And yet…a new apprehension grew in me. I felt like the princess presented with too many handsome beaus: how would I ever choose which ones to take? Would that every princess might suffer as I did!

The appeal of fairy tales is much like the appeal of erotica: both tap into our own deep desires and allow us to explore the boundaries of the taboo. When we are children, the whole world is foreign and new and fairy tales give us a way to safely explore that world through imagination. As adults, often more jaded and cynical than we’d like to be, erotica lets us explore and redefine our ideas about sex and sexuality. We are given permission to want, to need and to try new things through the stories we read. Our imaginations are sparked by stories that surprise us with their ability to arouse. So many of those classic fairy tales are already layered with a subtext of sensuality. Beautiful women imprisoned; handsome men tortured; heroes and heroines undergoing tests of strength and will, seeking out the forbidden and exotic. It seems a marriage of lusty convenience to pair fairy tales and erotica. At last, those dusty old tales can come out of the closet and share their secrets!

The end result of my quest for erotic fairy tales is the book you hold in your hands. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the wonderful Brenda Knight at Cleis Press for the many brainstorming phone calls and emails that led to the creation of this collection. Likewise, I cannot gush enough over the fabulous authors who took chances and pushed boundaries to write these one-of-a-kind stories. My only regret is that I couldn’t have included more of the uniquely erotic tales I received.

From Andrea Dale’s playfully naughty “How the Little Mermaid Got Her Tail Back” to A. D. R. Forte’s tale of a man discovering the depth of his submissive nature in “The Stone Room,” and every story in between, Fairy Tale Lust has been compiled with the utmost love for the two genres it combines. The eroticism that was only hinted at in the original fairy tales is now laid out in naked splendor for your perverse pleasure. Take a walk in these dark woods and you’re likely to come across all sorts of naughty mischief lurking in the gray shadows. Don’t be afraid; the only pursuit here is one for your pleasure. Which story will be your favorite? Which one will speak to your darkest desire?

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I say it's worth a very sweet little prize package. I'm looking for photographs of Fairy Tale Lust in the wild-- on the shelves in your local bookstore or in your hand as you check out with your very own copy.

E-mail your photo (along with your name and location of the bookstore) to kristina@kristinawright.com and I will post it here and credit you for the find. On August 1, I will choose three lucky winners to receive prize packages that will include five anthologies that feature my stories, along with some chocolate goodness from Fairytale Brownies. (I make excellent brownies. Ask anyone. But these... oh my, they are good.)

Please note: I will not be giving away Fairy Tale Lust as part of these prize packages because I want you to buy the book! ;-)

18 and over, please. Other than that, anyone anywhere can enter. I'd love to see photos of Fairy Tale Lust in bookstores all over the world!

Alana Noel Voth is one of those writers who goes where other writers won't go. She doesn't just push the envelope, she shreds it to pieces and makes confetti out of it. I have loved Alana's work for years and will read anything she writes-- twice. Her story "Big, Bad Wolf" is an excerpt from her novel-in-progress. To say I'm anxiously awaiting the novel would be an understatement.

What inspired you to retell this particular fairy tale?

To quote T.S. Elliott, "Good writers borrow. Great writers steal." A year ago, I had this dream about the most amazing looking woman I'd ever seen in my life having sex with a man who looked very much like Sam Merlotte from True Blood, who happens to be the most amazing looking man on the planet, and during my sex dream the man notices tufts of fur in the woman's hair and thinks she smells like blood, and because I like Sam Merlotte and wolves so much, I woke to my magnum opus. But this answer has nothing to do with fairytales. People are so screwed up and then you throw them to the wolves. A wolf disguises itself in a woman's body. Or the woman defends herself as a wolf. The big, bad wolf motiff has a lot to do with identity. It has a lot to do with power. This appeals to me.

How long have you been writing erotica?

Since I was thirteen. But what I wrote at that time had less to do with sex and more to do with power.

What is your favorite story you’ve written so far? Why?

"Big, Bad Wolf" is my favorite because it's all I've worked on since June 2009. Makes sense, right? I'm obsessed with it, haunted by it, and overwhelmed by it.

What advice would you give to aspiring erotica/erotic romance authors?

If you're a student, never sit in the same desk twice. If you go to an office everyday, never park your car in the same spot. And masturbate.

What is your writing routine like?

I suffer. I suck. I persevere. I prevail.

Are you a full-time writer? What is your “day job?”

No, I'm not a full-time writer, and people who are complain about it, so nothing's perfect. By day, I'm a nine-to-five licensed insurance producer who does everything from sales to customer service to education and marketing. In addition, I'm a single mother 24/7 and also on call. I'm tired. That's what I am. Mostly tired.

Do you write to music? Did you have a song or soundtrack for your Fairy Tale Lust story?

I'm not writing to music right now. I'm writing to the exhuberent cadence of my son swearing at his video game on the Xbox. But mostly I write to music. "Big, Bad Wolf" (the novel-in-progress) is so full of song references and bits of lyric, I'm going to have to cut 84% of them. Songs particularly important to the story are "Fire Lake" by Bob Segar, "Do You Know What I Mean?" by Lee Michaels, and "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin. I'll never get tired of "Fire Lake" or red lipstick.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Aurelia Evans is relatively new to the erotica genre, but she has a writing voice and style that guarantees we'll be seeing more from this talented author. Her story "Frosted Glass" is a bittersweet and erotic retelling of "The Snow Queen" and I'm delighted to have been able to include it in Fairy Tale Lust.

What inspired you to retell this particular fairy tale?

I started out wanting to write an erotic retelling of The Snow Queen because I re-fell in love with it during a fairy tale literature class in college. It’s a story that speaks to me mostly because of Andersen’s religious undertones that I’d like to turn on their heads. But I ended up writing quite a different story than I planned, and maybe I’ll write that version later, but this is the one that came out.

If you are new to erotica, what brought you to the erotica/erotic romance genre?

I don’t remember exactly how I came to write original erotic fiction. I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed with sex, but I would say that it’s something that occupies my mind a little too much, and I like the way sex can more than just sex in literature. I love reading about sex, writing about sex, learning new things about sex … I suppose it was inevitable that I at least dipped my toes into writing erotica. Because sex is never just sex in literature. There are statements, politics, emotions, subversions, power exchanges … there’s always something. It makes sex a very useful way of moving a character or the plot forward, while having a little fun as well.

I’m not completely new to the erotica world. My story “In Circles” was featured in Amber Dawn’s queer woman’s horror erotica anthology Fist of the Spider Woman, which is still my favorite. Erotic romance doesn’t come naturally to me, actually. I tend toward the darker side of things. My next short story, a gay male vampire short called “Stained Glass” in the anthology Queer Gothic, edited by James Rasmussen, is also on the publication route. So I’m not new new, but I’m hardly established. But I’m not going away. :)

What is your writing routine like? Are you a full-time writer? What is your “day job?”

I wish I could say I had one at the moment. Right now I’m pecking away at things little by little, here and there, but nothing that makes me feel really productive. I’m working and going to school full-time, and that’s frying my brain. I’m still making an effort to find brain power to write, but it’s not easy.

Like most writers, I wish this were my day job. Unfortunately, I’m not so lucky at this juncture.

Why do you think erotic fairy tales are so popular right now?

I think there’s an underlying sexual tension underneath the proper romance and moralistic warnings, a salaciousness even the most uptight of old wives couldn’t help but add to these tales. And while we don’t always see it in our stories and fairy tale movies when we’re younger, as we get older and more sexually aware, those bits of suggestiveness start becoming more obvious. Also, fairy tales are things that we have in common over great distances. Not everyone’s versions are the same – sometimes Cinderella’s shoes are leather, glass, fur, etc. But there’s that familiarity just the same, the same archetypes that stayed with us since we were children, we bring with us as adults.

Also, it’s fun to play in a supernatural arena, and fairy tales give us a way to bring some fanciful magic to our more prosaic, carnal magic.

What’s next for you? Upcoming publications and current projects?

I’ve finished a supernatural erotic novel and need to polish before sending it out for editorial consideration, but I’m really excited about it. I’ve also got a few (mostly) non-erotic supernatural/horror/apocalyptic novels on my hard drive that I also need to polish and/or finish. There are a few erotic short stories as well. Lots of work that needs to be done, but not a lot of time. You can see why I’m frustrated! Still, I persevere.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Janine Ashbless blends fantasy, horror and erotica into some of the most breathtaking stories to be found. Her story "Sleep Tight" is a wicked retelling of Sleeping Beauty.

What inspired you to retell this particular fairy tale?

"Sleep Tight" is based on Sleeping Beauty, and the protagonist is set to work strimming down a thicket of brambles around a spooky old house. It seemed an ideal way of using my own experience working with petrol-powered strimmers. Little details like the smells, the vibration of the machine, the horror of doing it in areas where dogs have fouled...

Are there any other fairy tales you’d like to see retold? Why?

I want to retell all the fairy stories! That’s what started me with erotica in the first place: reading Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber when I was at college. It’s my favourite sub-genre of erotica.

How long have you been writing erotica?

12 years at least. But I’ve been telling myself these stories since I was in my teens – I just took a few decades to write them down.

What is your favorite story you’ve written so far? Why?

Argh, don’t ask me to pick! My novel Divine Torment is very close to my heart, very personal, my vision of the erotic romance I wanted to read. My favourite short story - at the moment – is either "Janissaries" or "The Red Thread" (both to be found in Dark Enchantment) because they are both in different ways brutal and honest, and they still shock me.

What advice would you give to aspiring erotica/erotic romance authors?

Write well: write the best stories you can – just because it’s erotica that doesn’t make it an excuse for sloppiness or insincerity.

What is your writing routine like?

Insufficiently disciplined. I always have a hundred little jobs to do first...

Are you a full-time writer?

I’m a full-time procrastinator.

Do you write to music?

No: I can’t have any music on while writing – it interferes with the rhythm of the words in my head.

What do you enjoy reading? Favorite authors? Favorite genres? Recommendations?

I love reading travel books, particularly those which deal with people thrust into extreme life-and-death situations where choices really count. My favourite is “Into Thin Air” by John Krakauer, which is a simply mind-blowing account of disaster on Everest.

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your writing?

That photo was taken in 1990 – I was playing a demon for a LARP event. Dig that perm!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

"The Pub Owner's Daughter" is Alegra Verde's delicious story of a sexually empowered woman. It has the tone of an authentic fairy tale, which is what initially drew me to it in the first place, but a very contemporary message. In Alegra's fairy tale, the princess doesn't have to remain passive in the realization of her own pleasure, she makes it her mission to find what makes her happy. And that is what makes "The Pub Owner's Daughter" so perfect for Fairy Tale Lust.

Give the basic premise for your story. Is it a contemporary, historical, fantasy setting? What do you think makes your story a fairy tale? How does it fit in the fairy tale genre? Did you have a particular inspiration for your original fairy tale?

"Pub Owner’s Daughter" has a vaguely medieval setting. It centers on the idea of the quest, a common theme in fairy tales and myths. I wanted to empower Treasure, the protagonist, but I also wanted to convey that her quest for sexual fulfillment is healthy, good and pure. Therefore, the tale is not as sexually audacious as some. The idea is that she gets to choose rather than be chosen.

If you are new to erotica: What brought you to the erotica/erotic romance genre? What authors have inspired, influenced or mentored you?

I am relatively new to erotica. I’ve had a couple of stories published in Virgin Black Lace anthologies and I have a couple that are soon to be published by Harlequin Spice. My previously published work consists primarily of poetry and essays. In 2005, Swank Press published a book of my poetry. A few of years ago I began reading romance/erotica by Brenda Joyce, Susan Johnson, and Emma Holly. After discovering the intensity and the sensuality of their work, I became a voracious reader of the genre.

What is your writing routine like? Are you a full-time writer? What is your “day job?”

I teach college comp and lit. It pays the bills. I read and write all the time. However, during the semester when I get bogged down with preparing lectures and reading student papers, I still try to read at least one book a week. My peak writing time is during the summer when I’m not teaching, May to August. I’m usually on the computer about five to ten hours a day, depending on how well a story is going. Contrary to all the best advice, I usually work on several projects at once. Currently, I’m working on two novels and when I get stuck on one of them, I’ll work on a short story. The short stories are the most fun to write because often the initial idea comes in a dream and frequently they propel themselves. Recently though, I’ve acquired an agent and I’ve found that my writing habits have changed. I’m forced to work on and complete a specific project and I must admit its not as much fun, but getting the work out there is a new kind of incentive.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Saskia Walker lives close to the windswept moors of Yorkshire, which might explain why so many of her stories are imbued with paranormal and romantic elements. Her story "All in a Day's Work" is a fun, kinky day-in-the-life of a fairy godmother. What's not to love?

I wrote a story based on a fairytale character, the fairy godmother. When I saw the call for FAIRY TALE LUST I was intrigued. I decided to write about a fairy godmother because she is often seen as a secondary character in fairy tales, but rarely has a story of her own where we get inside her head. I wanted to give her that moment, but with a modern twist. The story is true to the nature of the fairy godmother—she’s nurturing and giving, and she knows what is good for the people she helps—but with a modern, erotic slant.

I’ve been writing erotica since 1996. How time flies! For several years I only wrote short stories, and then I graduated to longer work, novellas and novels. I still enjoy working on short stories and get an enormous sense of achievement when I write something that works as a self-contained short.

What advice would you give to aspiring erotica/erotic romance authors?

I say have fun with your work, because it shows! Stephen King has described writing as a kind of telepathy between the author and the reader. If you have fun with it, your sense of joy in the creative act will come across to the reader. That means you are going to show them a jolly good time as well!

What is your writing routine like?

My writing “routine” is very patchy...in fact I use the word “routine” with some embarrassment. :) I tend to write in stints of about 40 minutes, and then I zip off and do other things. The story I am working on is always turning over at the back of my mind though. 99% of writing goes on in the imagination, it’s getting it out and onto the page that’s the hard part. I write across the day and into the evenings, in patches. I honestly wish I could do office hours and contain it. I've tried, but it just won't happen for me.

Are you a full-time writer? What is your “day job?”

I’m now a full-time writer, yes, after many years of scrabbling for the odd writing hour here and there. I was able to gradually go part-time with my day job as I began to get more publishing contracts, and around 4 years ago I took the plunge and became a full-time writer. Some days it’s hard, like any self-employed work you have to motivate yourself adn it can be lonely, but I’m a much happier person as result. I love my job!

Do you write to music? Did you have a song or soundtrack for yourFairy Tale Lust story?

Always with music, yes. It was industrial dance music for this one, bands like Rammstein and Gravity Kills. Because my character is a modern twist on the fairy godmother, I imagined her as a leather-clad, kickass kind of a woman. She’s drawn to kinky characters and helps them live out the erotic fantasies they aren’t brave enough to manageon their own. I figured she’d enjoy something punchy and powerful, much like myself! (teehee!)

Why do you think erotic fairy tales are so popular right now?

Pure escapism, I guess. I respond to erotic fairy tales because they mix fantasy and reality, and that means I can engage in the fantasy at a deeper level.

What do you enjoy reading? Favorite authors? Favorite genres? Recommendations?

I read a lot in the fantasy and paranormal genres, especially anything that has an erotic slant. One of my favorite paranormal romance writers at the moment is Kresley Cole. Her Immortals After Dark series has me eagerly awaiting the next book. I’m also a big fan of Janine Ashbless (who I see has a story in FAIRY TALE LUST – can’t wait toread the whole book!) Janine writes terrific erotic fantasy and her novel WILDWOOD is one of my all time favourites.

What’s next for you? Upcoming publications and current projects?

Next up from me on the Spice line is THE HARLOT, an erotic novel due out in June 2011. This is a historical paranormal erotic set in Scotland during the time of the witch trials. It’s a very bawdy, raunchy tale, and possibly the most intense hero/heroine relationship I’ve written to date.

I also have a series of shorter erotic novels about three psychic sisters on the go. This series is called EROGENOUS ZONES and the first book, MONICA’S SECRET, will be published by Total-E-Bound in October 2010.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Fairy Tale Lust is my pretty, pretty book and I hope you will buy it, love it, hug it, squeeze it and call it George (and tell everyone you know to do the same). But Fairy Tale Lust is not the only book tapping into the eroticism of princesses in castles and beasts in the woods. In fact, erotic fairy tales are hot right now and there are several authors and editors putting their own spin on this sexy new sub-genre.

So, if you loved Fairy Tale Lust and are lusting for more naughty fairy tales, you might want to check out these other pretty, pretty books:

In Sleeping Beauty's Bed is a collection of erotic fairy tales by the talented Mitzi Szereto. Bonus for academics and fairy tale geeks: each story includes an introduction detailing its historic origins.

Enchanted is another single-author collection of erotic fairy tales. Nancy Madore followed up this wildly popular collection with Enchanted Again, a collection of erotic stories based on nursery rhymes and Enchanted Dreams, a collection of supernatural erotica. I can't wait to see what she enchants us with next.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The first thing I discovered about Jeremy Edwards is that he has a wicked sense of humor. The second thing I learned was that his talent with crafting puns and double entendres is but one of his gifts with words. Winning the most creative award for his story title, "Gildi and the Unwieldy, Ineffectual Committee of Bears," Jeremy has written a very different kind of Goldilocks story.

What inspired you to retell this particular fairy tale?

I liked its potential for blending the erotic with the comedic. With the Goldilocks story in my mind, it was very easy for me to envision a protagonist wandering around a strange house on a sexy mission, and having misadventures en route to accomplishing it--while being sort of underfoot with respect to the characters who live there.

How long have you been writing erotica?

I began writing some erotica in 1995; but for the most part I didn't disseminate it, and I only wrote in the genre very occasionally. It was a full decade later that I began writing erotica regularly, and for publication.

What is your writing routine like?

Typically, my stories first go through a "preproduction" phase where I'm making notes as things occur to me--little bits of dialogue or narrative for a story that I'm planning on writing, but haven't yet focused on. Often the first paragraph or so of the story will be drafted in this phase. Then, when I sit down to work on the story in earnest, I tend to write in chunks, not necessarily drafting things in order. As I add content, I'm continually looking at what I have, and revising as I go along to polish things and make sure all the chunks transition well into each other.

So by the time I have a complete draft, I've already done a lot of revising. At that point I go through one or two more times to polish. Then I print the manuscript out and go through with a purple pen. This is a "fine-tooth comb" phase, where I try to catch anything that's awkward, and also mark any words whose spelling or precise meaning I think I'd better double check. (It's also where I tend to replace character names with pronouns wherever I've repeated a character name unnecessarily.) Then, of course, I take the purple-pen mark-up and go back to the digital file, to deal with all this.

Finally, I run a "concordance" program over the file to generate a list of words contained in the story, in descending frequency order. I scan this for words that I may have overused, finding alternative vocabulary where it's called for.

Whew!

What do you enjoy reading? Favorite authors? Favorite genres? Recommendations?

Outside of erotica (which I read a lot of!), my reading tastes run to comic novels (think P. G. Wodehouse and E. F. Benson), humor essays (think Robert Benchley and young Woody Allen), whimsical children's books, and stage farces. Much of the literature I enjoy most dates back several decades, or even a century.

What’s next for you? Upcoming publications and current projects?

Thanks for asking! I have an erotic-story collection coming out soon: Spark My Moment, an e-book from Xcite (which may also appear in print down the road). Meanwhile, my erotocomedic novel Rock My Socks Off (also from Xcite, in print and e), which was released in the UK earlier this year, is scheduled for U.S. release in the fall.

Monday, June 21, 2010

RT Book Reviews (formally known as Romantic Times) gave Fairy Tale Lust a 4.5 star review! My publicist at Cleis Press sent along the tear sheet, so I thought I would share that rather than retyping the whole thing.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Shanna Germain is one of my favorite authors, hands down. She is a self-described "Writer. Editor. Leximaven. Geek. Gamer. Biker. Wanderluster. Knife-licker." She is also an inspiration. Her ethereal tale "Her Hair is a Net, Woven" will stay with you long after you read it. I promise.

If the original fairy tale isn’t well known, please share the origins.

This is based on a Polish/German fairy tale that revolves around the Nix (water-man) and his wife, a water-woman. The Nix lures passerbys into the water in order to drown them, and his wife plays a role as well, often visiting the market to bargain in butter and tempt men back to her husband. I read a line about how you could tell a water-woman because her hem was always wet, and the story took off from there. I imaged what it would be like if she fell in lust or love with one of the men and refused to lure him back to her husband's clutches.

How long have you been writing erotica?

Since about 2001, in any kind of serious sense of the word. That was also the first year I had an erotic story published. Since then, I've just been unable to stop!

What is your writing routine like?

As often as I can. I usually go to a coffee shop and settle in for a few hours. For me, it's really hard to write at home -- the call of the dishwasher and the laundry and everything else is far louder than any coffee-shop ruckus ever is!

Are you a full-time writer? What is your “day job?”

Yep! And delighted to be able to say that. My days are filled with editing (magazines and books), writing (articles, fiction and poems) and teaching (fiction and memoir). It's very piecemeal, but I love it.